Sunderland manager Michael Beale suspects Eddie Howe is a victim of his own success at Newcastle.

The English head coach is under serious pressure at the St. James' Park club.

Amid an injury crisis, Howe's team have tumbled down the Premier League table and are out of Europe entirely.

“Eddie is everything that is good about British coaching," said the former Rangers head coach, whose team will meet Newcastle in the FA Cup.

“He has done a good job to this moment. Sometimes you can overachieve a little bit early.

“Only he will know the pressure that he is under. But it's a derby, so I'm sure both of us will get it in the neck if we lose!

“The two clubs are in completely different places to when the last derby was played (in 2016). We've been down to League One and are now the youngest team in the Championship, possibly in the country.

“They'll be favorites, but I don't think I'll get a free hit and I'm not looking at it that way. I'm looking at it as a great opportunity for my young players to go and show their potential to play at that level.

“We're trying to mature and grow and they've got big ambitions to play in the Premier League and Champions League.

“They're playing against a group who have done that this year, what an opportunity. It's a great game to be involved in."